I am usually not one for watching award shows. However, this past weekend I was doing some schoolwork and happened to have The Grammy Awards on in the background. I had heard Billy Joel was going to perform a new song and wanted to check it out. (Does it age me that I am a Billy Joel fan?) It might age me that I find a lot musical acts today to be hard to connect with on an emotional level. Maybe it is the lyrics, or the music itself, but it just isn't rock and roll to me. (Did you get the Billy Joel reference?) I consider myself lucky that I grew up listening to classic rock that I guess, according to my kids, is now 70's, 80's AND 90's music. I am grateful to my father for introducing me to all types of music from all different genres because it has definitely had an influence on my life. Although the music of today is different in many ways, the influence of past artists is still present. This couldn't be any more evident than when the first few strums of the guitar played, the camera panned up and the melodious voice of Tracy Chapman could be heard as she sang a duet of "Fast Car" with current country star Luke Combs. In an interview with Billboard Magazine, Combs talks about "Fast Car," written in 1988, as a song he remembers listening to with his dad and is a song that sparked his love for music. Chapman's influence as a song writer, singer and performer has contributed to landing him where he is today. Watching them sing the song together had me applauding in my living room. The smile on Chapman's face as she heard the roar of the audience, the look of awe on Combs's face as they sang together and then the mutual respect for one another at the end of the song added to the what is being talked about as one of the best Grammy performances ever. It spoke to the art of influence that a person can have on another. Tracy Chapman's influence on Luke Combs made him want to sing her song that is now the #1 song on the charts and helped Chapman win the 2023 Country Music Song of the Year thirty six years after it was written. In essence, they have influenced each other in different ways. As teachers and students, we have the opportunity to influence each other in many ways. The amount of time we spend with each other, seeing each other at our best and sometimes our worst, the positive impacts can happen at any moment. It could be a memorable lesson, a conversation or maybe just a simple smile and "hello." The unique thing is the art of influence might not be immediate. Henry Adams once said, "A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops." Our Boys 200 Free Relay broke a school record this week of a former team that I coached here at PTHS. Fifteen years later, I can still see the faces of those boys when they broke the record. They are some of the finest young men I ever had the privilege to coach and the influence they had on my life means more than they know. On Friday, we had four students get up on stage in front of their peers during lunch and showcase their talents by playing the piano, the flute, guitar and ukulele. They were influenced by Mr. Piccoli, a special education teacher at PTHS, who thought of the talent show idea and then by teachers who encouraged them to do it. It was a special moment for those students and something they will never forget. Whether it is a day, a year, 15 years or 36 years, you never know where your influence will stop. It is a reminder to us all that as a student, parent or teacher, you will "be someone, be someone be someone" to somebody else. Your influence can make them feel that they belong. Check out Tracy and Luke on the Grammys!
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I read a quote the other day on a social media account that said, "January was a tough year, but we made it." It did feel like January was a long month. With unpredictable weather causing disruption to the school schedule, midterm exams, the core of the winter sports season, and the start of marking period 3, we experienced a lot in a short period of time. While January may have felt like it was a year long for some, it is a very small portion of a year that is filled with opportunity.
I was watching TV last night and the annual Lexus "Make It A December to Remember" car commercial came on that focuses on special moments, thoughtful surprises and the magic of the holiday season. It always ends with someone being shocked when they open up the front door to a brand new car with a big bow on it sitting in the driveway. I'm sure if that happened to any one of us, it surely would be a December to Remember. Although my first question might be, "Who's paying for that?" While the commercial didn't get me thinking about buying a new car, it did make me think about how it can be a December to remember. I wrote a few weeks ago in our staff newsletter about the rush of the holiday season. November was over in a blink and now here we are rushing again to get to the holidays. Rushing to get the house decorated, rushing to find that perfect gift for someone, rushing to get to a parking spot at the mall or rushing to see if an Amazon package arrived at the door before someone sees it. Those aren't the things I want to remember about December. My hope is that I remember how people come together to support those in need. Whether it is donating clothing to a charity, buying a present for a child in need, stopping by a neighbor's house who might be alone this season to say hello, or gathering with family, friends or co-workers, there are various ways that it can be a December to Remember for us and for others. In school with have our winter sports seasons starting up, our annual Winter Concert that rings in the holidays with festive songs, our President of Pequannock AP Government project, Mr. Rodriguez's holiday carolers, our holiday spirit week and our staff cookie contest that all help make December a month to remember as we close out 2023. As we welcome in a new month, the final month of the year, as a Pequannock Community let us make it a December to Remember as we spread Golden Panther Pride throughout our community in acts of service, cheer and fellowship. May it be a month of special moments, thoughtful surprises and the magic of the holiday season as we look forward to what is to come! Hello December! #DecembertoRemember The following is my Commencement Speech to the Pequannock Township High School Class of 2023. I have had the privilege of having this group of students since sixth grade when I was the Principal of PV School. It is truly an honor to stand before you tonight as the Principal of Pequannock Township High School having the opportunity to speak to the sixty-fourth graduating class of Golden Panthers. To paraphrase our outstanding Senior Class President, Tyler Denton….buckle up…..here we go. This ceremony is a tradition unlike any other in our community and it is one that symbolizes the dedication and commitment to scholarship, citizenship, leadership, service and character that our students have demonstrated during their time in the Pequannock Township School District. However, this year, really does have a little Deja vu feeling to it doesn’t it? Besides seeing a second member of the Durr family give a speech as Salutatorian in a three year span, for many of you sitting here as graduates and audience members, four years ago I stood in front of you at your 8th grade ceremony, ready to send you off to high school by providing you with what I felt were some words of wisdom that would help you be successful. Then…..at your freshman orientation….…..surprise! I came to high school with you! Your first day of high school was my first day……and tonight, on your last day of high school I am proud and will be forever grateful to say that you are my first four-year graduating class as Principal of Pequannock Township High School and the only group in my career that I will have had for seven full years. I will fully admit that I am not ready to say goodbye. In fact, in practicing this speech I have gotten choked up every time so I apologize if my voice gets shaky. Although you saw that today already. The past two weeks, spending time with you on the senior cruise, the senior sunset and the last two graduation practices, the reality that this day was coming really hit me hard. For the last seven years you’ve always been there. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching you grow into tremendous scholars, accomplished athletes, talented musicians/artists and actors, and community builders. You are a class that enjoys being together, you look out for one another, have fun with each other and you have led PTHS out of some of the toughest years in our history. During these past few events, I just liked hanging out with you. As we walked off of Memorial Field together for the Senior Sunset, it stood out to me, that I’m not going with you this time. Yes, it probably sounds too sentimental and incredibly corny but hey, you’ve had me for seven years. Would you expect anything less? And no, Tyler, as you wrote in my yearbook, I don’t think you will see me as your Academic Dean at Rutgers. High School commencement ceremonies are usually a celebration of accomplishment. It is the culmination of, for many, a thirteen-year journey of schooling. It is the recognition of the efforts made by our graduates inside and outside of the classroom and the support provided from their families, friends and teachers. It is a moment, to pause, reflect and share in the many memories that have been made together as a collective group. However, as you have learned in your English and World Language classes, the meaning of words are critical to understanding the context of a story. As I’m sure you are aware, the term commencement actually means “beginning.” Tonight is really a celebration of the beginning of the rest of your life’s story. To be honest, I don’t have any words of wisdom to share with you that I haven’t already shared with you over the past seven years. Instead, I want to share with you a few observations and lessons I have learned watching you as your Principal that I believe are the foundation for the beginning of the rest of your life’s story as you leave this field tonight. You learned that learning is a precious gift and you shouldn’t waste it. I remember when most of you were in 6th grade and you thought that learning your locker combination was hard. Although, since many of you haven’t used your locker in four years, it might still be. What I observed is that you didn’t know how valuable learning is until it is almost taken away from you. Your ninth and 10th-grade years were as far from normal as one can imagine. As Tyler so eloquently thanked his ceiling fan, I think we can all agree that through all the trials and tribulations we all learned something about ourselves and how we learn best. What I appreciated most about this group was when PTHS returned to “normal” you took full advantage. You challenged yourselves in the classroom and you revitalized our extracurricular groups and clubs. From Student Council to Chess Club to FBLA to Robotics, you have followed your passions and left a legacy for the classes that follow you. This group collectively makes up one of the largest in the school’s history in the number of AP tests taken over a four-year period. You are the first group of graduates of our four-year Allied Health Academy and the Teaching and Learning Academy. This class is made up of Eagle Scouts, EMTs, and first responder volunteers. You took full advantage of what you could learn inside and outside of the classroom. Thanks for learning along with me as we navigated this journey together. Don’t ever take learning for granted. You led with intention, direction and connection. This class has been gifted with tremendous leadership. I would be remiss if I did not mention the senior class officers and their tremendous efforts over the past several years to make your senior year the best year possible. They always wanted what was best for you and their direction and communication were outstanding. Who would have thought that selling popcorn would pay off the prom and senior cruise for many of you! However, leadership came in many forms. I observed leading through self-expression, individual talents, helping a fellow student who might have been having a bad day. I observed team captains picking up your teammates. I saw you leading community service projects, and saw those who led by example in the classroom showing up every day and putting in work. You worked together to benefit each other. You raised each other up and in turn raised us up as a school. Leading with intention, direction and connection will be something that I will remember from the class and will be something that will benefit you tomorrow and moving forward. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Don’t be afraid to lead. We need you now more than ever. I’ve aged a lot in seven years…..I’m going to need you to lead me one day when I’m older. “We before me.” This happened to be the motto of this year’s Group 1 state championship baseball team but it is also something that I learned from watching you. Nothing was more evident being down 4-0 in the first inning of the state championship last week and the group rallying together with everyone contributing to the success of the team. As I look out at each and every one of you, you all, in your own way, contributed to the success of the entire class. It was never about your individual accomplishments. It was always about making your team, your club, your class, your friends and our school better. Surround yourselves with people who will bring out the best in you and in turn you will bring out the best in others. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. While this is actually a quote from Roman philosopher, Seneca, it is something I learned watching you. This group has accomplished so much. There is no way one can count the number of times this group has heard the words, “good luck” as they took a test, prepared for a big game, competed for a national championship, performed a school play, or submitted a college application. In this group are sectional and state champions, national marching band champions, AP Scholars, a National Merit Commended Scholar, MCVT graduates, STEM, Allied Health and Teaching and Learning Academy graduates, all conference/all county athletes, a state champion power lifter, school record holders and the list goes on and on. You made your own luck because you were prepared when every opportunity came your way. You gave it your all, worked hard and you never gave up. As you begin the next phase of your life. Stay prepared. Take advantage of every opportunity. Remember the individual and group successes that got you to those moments. I’m going to close my speech tonight with the same message that I gave you four years ago. In that speech, I talked about what I wanted you to be ready to do when you got to high school. I charged you with the task to be ready to create hope… Four years later. The charge remains the same. Don’t ever believe that you can’t make a difference. It is our hopes that shape our future. I have watched you for the past seven years grow into outstanding young adults that have made all of us proud. You created hope for so many when it didn’t seem like there was much to be found through your leadership, your character, your service and your Golden Panther Pride. You are our hope for a brighter tomorrow. This is just your beginning. Go create hope. To paraphrase our guest speaker Lt. Kevin Riccardi today, "If it’s not you, then who?" I’m glad that I could be a small part of these seven years of your life. I will miss you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me a better person, a better Principal and for leaving your mark on PTHS and our community. You have made us all stronger Golden Panthers! Congratulations and best wishes to the PTHS Class of 2023! I will miss you and I believe in you so much. Go get 'em. This past weekend I had the opportunity to go skiing with my son. We haven't done much skiing this year due to lack of snow, the winter basketball schedule and various other commitments. It was nice to get on the mountain and get my "ski legs" going again. I've been skiing my entire life, competing on ski racing teams and going to Vermont and Colorado. However, after college, I really have only gone a few times a year. It's a nice activity that I get to share with my son and he can get a glimpse of his dad reliving his past! If you have never been skiing, the trails are marked by symbols. Green circles mean beginner trails, blue squares means intermediate trails and black diamonds are for advanced skiers. Every once and awhile, depending on the mountain, there is the "double black" diamond which means experts only. After skiing the green trails to get ourselves going, we assessed our progress and moved to the intermediate trails. It's fun to go fast and the trails are usually a bit longer. It wasn't long before the advanced trail was calling my name. As I stood at the top of it a kid who couldn't have been more than 10 or 11 years old came up next to me. He asked me what the "black diamond" meant. I told him it was meant for experts. The hill was steep and that it was for skiers who have been skiing a long time and know how to turn really well. He said, "I can turn, I'm going to try it." Just before he took off, his father, who must have been behind him, came up and said, "You aren't ready for that yet." That was my cue to go but I could sense that the young man wanted to give it a try. I made it (safely) down the hill, breaking out some of my racing turns from back in the day. When I looked back up I saw the dad and his son coming down the hill with dad leading the way, modeling how to turn all the way across the hill. While I didn't wait for them to get to the bottom, I couldn't help but smile because the young man obviously convinced his dad that he could do it. I remember my son doing that to me too when he was learning to ski. Sometimes you just have to let them try it for themselves. As scary and time-consuming as it may be for the dad, it is where the learning (and confidence) can happen for that child. Isn't that similar to what happens in school? "Signs" may say that the question/assignment is difficult. As students sometimes they are too afraid to try because they think it is too hard (The Dad). Sometimes they want to try it because they think they have the skills they need, demonstrated by accomplishing easier tasks (the young skier). What is necessary is confidence, persistence and a little bit of modeling. The benefits of exposing our students to more challenging material can be beneficial, no matter how long it may take. While that young man may not be an expert yet, what he gained from the experience is that someday he can be and there will be support systems in place for him along the way to help get him there. In classrooms throughout our schools, there are green circles, blue squares and black diamonds. There are also students waiting, looking at the signs and perhaps ready to take a risk, to step out side their comfort zone, to challenge themselves. There are also some who are happy staying on the green trail. One way or another, we are helping our students work their way down to the bottom of the mountain by giving them confidence, persistence or maybe even a little bit modeling. No matter how long it takes or how difficult the path may be, I will see you at the bottom, ready to hop on the lift to do it all over again with you. Black diamonds here we come....... One of my favorite books to read during the holiday season is "The Polar Express." A young boy boards a mysterious train bound for the North Pole where he is offered any gift he desires from someone whom he did not believe in. Throughout the story, he meets a variety of characters from peers to train conductors to train riders who play a role in the boy's journey. While I won't ruin the story for those who haven't read it (or have seen the movie), one of my favorite quotes from the book is "Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see." While this quote for the movie, pertained to a young boy believing in the magic of Christmas, we can also relate this quote to our lives as educators. At times, we have students, much like the boy in the Polar Express, who don't necessarily believe in themselves or in what they are learning. Whether it was a past experience, a lack of confidence or simple disbelief, the feelings are real. Until they start to see success, they do not believe that it is possible. Our students boarded the "train" in September and are embarking on a journey with you. I know that we all believe that students can be successful. We have the opportunity to be the conductors of their train ride. We are taking them on a journey where we can turn doubt into certainty, despair into hope, fear into confidence, uncertainty into belief. As we break for the holidays, don't question the positive impact you are making on our students. They may not yet see the success they have made thus far, but it is real and it is present----Thanks to you! As said in the Polar Express, "The thing about trains is it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on." In January they will board the train again that is bound for June. Let's keep the train rolling! All aboard! I was watching some of our fall sports in action this week and at one point I turned around and said "Wow, look at that." Yes, we are fortunate to have wonderful facilities, a new stackstand and lights so we can play games at night. However, I was looking at the mountain that stands in the distance that had transformed into an array of beautiful colors, providing a backdrop that represents the splendor of the fall season.
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Richard M. HayzlerA life long educator and current Principal of Pequannock Township High School in NJ, Rich is excited to share his ideas and thoughts about education and how we can change the world for our students and our staff. Currently Reading
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